Justin Trudeau recalls Fidel Castro as ‘legendary revolutionary and orator’

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is remembering former Cuban President Fidel Castro as a larger than life leader.

Castro died today at the age of 90.

Trudeau, who is attending the Francophonie Summit in Madagascar, expressed his deep sorrow at learning of Castro’s passing.

WATCH: The Cuban revolutionary who went on to become the president of Cuba and a key figure in the Cold War has died. Cuban President Raul Castro announced the death of his brother Fidel Castro on Cuban state media on Friday. Eric Sorenson looks back on the life of iconic political leader.

3:08 Fidel Castro dead at 90

READ MORE: Fidel Castro, former Cuba president, dies at age 90

His statement offered condolences on behalf of all Canadians and at the same time acknowledged that Castro was a controversial figure.

But Trudeau also referred to the late president as a “legendary revolutionary and orator.”

The prime minister went on to say that “Mr. Castro made significant improvements to the education and healthcare of his island nation.”

READ MORE: Justin Trudeau meets with Cuban president Raul Castro in Havana 

Trudeau recently travelled to Cuba but was unable to meet with Castro, who had been a friend of his father and served as an honorary pallbearer at Pierre Trudeau’s funeral in 2000.

However, Castro’s brother, the current president, was in the front row as the prime minister spoke to students at the University of Havana.

Trudeau said he knows his father was very proud to call Fidel Castro a friend and that it was a real honour to meet his three sons and his brother while he was in Cuba.